Meet the Fearless and Loyal Finnish Spitz Dog

What Makes This Breed Super Special

Is the Finnish Spitz Right for You?

Finnish Spitz dogs are most known for their brave, alert, playful, and lively personality.

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They get along well with children and other pets but tend to be wary around strangers.

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Finnish Spitz dogs are most known for their brave, alert, playful, and lively personality.

HISTORY

First brought to Finland around 2,000 years ago from Russia, this breed was used to hunt small animals. Even though they are not originally from Finland, their role in Finnish history has been fairly important, since they are considered the national dog, along with having a number of key mentions in various Finnish works. Despite their long running tradition in Finland, they were not recognized by the AKC until 1987.

quick facts

Size

Medium

Lifespan

12 - 15 years

Hair Length

Medium

Male Height

15 - 20 inches (38 - 51 cm.)

Male Weight

31 - 35 pounds (14-16 kg.)

Female Height

15 - 20 inches (38 - 51 cm.)

Female Weight

31 - 35 pounds (14-16 kg.)

Litter Size

5 - 8 puppies with the average being 6 puppies

APPEARANCE

The Finnish Spitz looks strikingly like a fox, with their reddish-yellow fur, pointed ears, and bushy tail. Their muzzle tapers down to a point and their eyes are surrounded by black. They have a longer coat with two layers; the undercoat is made of soft fur, which is covered with a top coat of rougher fur.

PERSONALITY

The Finnish Spitz is a playful, loyal, brave, strong-willed, friendly breed. They take a while (3 to 4 years) to fully mature, so you might be looking at rearing a full-grown puppy for a while. They are also exceptionally aware of their place on the totem-pole, and if the lines between alpha and omega become muddled, the Finnish Spitz might become overly protective and become domineering or aggressive. They are generally great with their family, but have tendencies to be standoffish with strangers. Lastly, as a hunting dog, they are bred to alert the hunter as to the location of game, making them a very vocal breed; a trait which is difficult to break.

color

The Finnish Spitz can be seen in patterns of red and gold, solid red, solid gold, and some with white markings.